Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PAKMMAF) is poised for another major international test as its two world-medal-winning athletes depart for Lebanon to compete in the IMMAF Asian Championship, one of the continent’s most competitive combat-sports events. The tournament will see over 400 fighters from 18 nations competing for regional supremacy, with Pakistan represented by elite performers Shahab Ali and Abdul Manan, both podium finishers at the 2025 IMMAF World Championship in Georgia. The delegation, led by PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed, who also sits on the Board of the IMMAF Asian Federation, signals Pakistan’s growing stature in international MMA. Pakistan currently ranks No. 3 in Asia, an extraordinary achievement in a region regarded as the global powerhouse of mixed martial arts.

Last year, Pakistan made history by hosting the IMMAF Asian Championship in Lahore, which became the largest sporting event ever held in the country, surpassing even the 1996 Cricket World Cup matches and the 2004 South Asian Games. Pakistan secured 12 medals, including breakthrough performances from female fighters Bano Butt and Eman Khan, earning praise from the Prime Minister for elevating the nation’s global sporting profile.

Pakistan’s rapid ascent continued this year when the Punjab government supported Pakistan Combat Night, an international event that served as the qualifier for the IMMAF World Championship in Georgia and the Road to BRAVE 100.

The event triggered a sequence of global participation, Georgia, ACA Dubai, BRAVE 100 Bahrain, culminating now with the Asian Championship in Lebanon. This trajectory reflects the sport’s systematic growth through structured competition rather than sporadic opportunities.

Despite a national sports budget exceeding Rs28 billion, MMA remains entirely self-funded. Pakistan’s international MMA presence, from Georgia to Dubai, Bahrain and Lebanon, has been achieved through privately generated sponsorships, underscoring the federation’s independent strength and extensive international relationships. MMA also serves as a direct economic pathway for young athletes, providing opportunities in global promotions such as BRAVE CF, UFC and PFL while feeding a domestic ecosystem of gyms, coaching, sports media and events.

In a transformative development, PAKMMAF recently finalized a three-year partnership with BRAVE Combat Federation, the world’s fastest-growing MMA promotion under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The deal will bring BRAVE CF events to Pakistan, integrate local fighters into international circuits and establish Pakistan as a consistent feature of global MMA. The partnership also lays the groundwork for Pakistan’s first major combat-sport IP, comparable to the PSL model in cricket.

PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed described MMA as an emerging economic engine for Pakistani youth. “Mixed martial arts now offers clear, global career routes,” he said. “Our athletes can earn internationally and build sustainable futures. What we’ve achieved with minimal resources shows how much potential lies ahead.”

As Pakistan prepares for the Asian Championship in Lebanon, it does so with world-class athletes, expanding exposure and a development model driven by performance rather than budget. With elite talent and powerful new partnerships, MMA continues to emerge as one of Pakistan’s most promising and globally aligned sports.

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